When a front or rear damper is working correctly on any Honda model, sometimes a light film of oil will form over the top of the working chamber. (See Fig. 1.) This doesn’t mean there’s a leak. It’s the result of the oil wiping off the rod as it travels back into the chamber. To make up for this loss, an extra amount of oil was added to the chamber when the damper was made.

An actual leak, however, would be very obvious. A leaking damper will have enough oil dribbling down the side (See Fig. 2) to leave a small puddle on the ground. A worn or damaged seal is the typical culprit.

Technical service bulletin courtesy of Mitchell 1.

For additional information, visit www.mitchell1.com.